Utility knife with rotating head assembly

ABSTRACT

A utility knife is disclosed having a body with a handle portion opposite a head portion and a head assembly received by the head portion of the body. The head assembly of the utility knife is configured to receive and secure a razor blade, wherein the head assembly is configured to pivot with respect to the body such that the razor blade forms an angle with respect to the body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/683,138, filed Jun. 11, 2018, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a utility knife, and more particularly,a utility knife having a rotating head assembly that pivots or rotatesto adjust the angle of the knife blade with respect to a utility knifebody.

BACKGROUND

Utility knives are well known. Most conventional utility knives comprisea case or handle for holding a standard razor blade in which the razorblade is in a fixed position. Typically, the case is held together by asingle, centrally-located screw or by integrated features within thecase. In this arrangement, the blade remains in a fixed position withrespect to the case or handle.

One improvement upon a fixed utility knife is one in which the bladeslides or otherwise protrudes from or retracts within the utility knifecase or handle. With such a retracting knife, a user holding the utilityknife may actuate the razor blade by pressing and sliding with a thumbor other digit a slider connected to the slide assembly, which causesthe razor blade to protrude from an end of the case. Utility knives ofthis fashion often are referred to as “Stanley” knives because of thosemanufactured and sold by the Stanley Company.

Another type of utility knife, often referred to as a “carpet knife”because of its use with carpet installation, maintains the razor bladeat about a forty-five degree angle downward with respect to the handleof the knife. An example of a typical carpet knife is disclosed in U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0271531 to Huang. As shown inthe Huang Publication, a user may gain access to the razor blade byloosening the central screw (70) and rotating one half of the case (10,20), as generally shown in the Huang Publication, FIG. 1.

Other types of utility knives combine a conventional utility knife witha conventional switchblade knife, in which the razor blade rotatesdownwardly with respect to the handle and retracts within the handle forsafe storing. This type of utility knife sometimes is referred to as afolding utility knife. Examples of such safety utility knives aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,915,577 to Scala and U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2012/0030949 to Ping.

Presently, no prior art utility knives provide for lateral rotation ofthe razor blade with respect to the handle. As a result, adjusting bladeangles for various cutting applications is not possible, and using anyof the conventional utility knives described herein may be difficult andsuboptimal in such applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure, autility knife is disclosed having a body with a handle portion oppositea head portion and a head assembly received by the head portion of thebody. The head assembly of the utility knife is configured to receiveand secure a razor blade, wherein the head assembly is configured topivot with respect to the body such that the razor blade forms an anglewith respect to the body.

According to another non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure, anexample embodiment of a method for adjusting or angling a razor blade ofa utility knife is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providinga handle portion secured to an end of the body proximate the razorblade; providing a head assembly received by the head portion of thebody, the head assembly being configured to receive and secure the razorblade; and pivoting the head assembly with respect to the body such thatthe razor blade forms an angle with respect to the body.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the utility knife described herein may bebetter understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an exemplar of a utility knife of thepresent disclosure, along with orthographic projections of the exemplarshowing front and back views;

FIG. 2A depicts a sectional view of the exemplar utility knife of FIG.1, with the rotating head assembly in a locked or engaged position;

FIG. 2B depicts side and sectional views of the exemplar utility knifeof FIG. 1, with the rotating head assembly in an unlocked or disengagedposition;

FIG. 2C depicts close-up sectional views of the side view of theexemplar utility knife in the unlocked and locked positions;

FIG. 3A depicts a top view of the exemplar utility knife of FIG. 1, withthe rotating head assembly shown in a position rotated counterclockwisewith respect to the body, in a neutral or default position, in aposition rotated clockwise with respect to the body, and in a closed orstowed position;

FIG. 3B depicts a side view of the exemplar utility knife of FIG. 3A, inthe same positions as shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of the exemplar utility knife of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A depicts a side view of the razor blade locking mechanism of theexemplar utility knife of FIG. 1 with the razor blade engaged andlocked;

FIG. 5B depicts a side view of the razor blade locking mechanism of theexemplar utility knife of FIG. 1 with the razor blade removed; and

FIG. 5C depicts perspective views of the razor blade locking mechanism.

The reader will appreciate the foregoing details, as well as others,upon considering the following Detailed Description of certainnon-limiting embodiments of the utility knife according to the presentdisclosure. The reader may also comprehend certain of such additionaldetails upon use of the utility knife described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure, in part, is directed to a utility knife having arotating head assembly.

As shown in FIG. 1, a utility knife (10) is disclosed having a body (12)with a grip or handle portion (14) opposite a head portion (16), whichis configured to receive and retain a head assembly (18). The headassembly (18) is received by a shoulder portion (20) affixed to orintegrated within the head portion (16) of body (12). The shoulder (20)includes a plurality of teeth (22) on an upper surface, which interfaceswith a mating surface (42, FIG. 5C) to limit or control rotary motion ofthe head assembly (18) with respect to the body (12).

Head assembly (18) includes a frame (24) that is received by shoulder(20) and is secured to the shoulder via post (26). Post (26) is mountedor secured to the head portion (16) and passes through the center ofshoulder (20). Post (26) also passes through and retains spring (28),which works to compress the frame (24) of head assembly (18) against theshoulder (20) when the locking mechanism (30) is moved to an engaged orlocked position.

Locking mechanism (30) is connected to post (26) via pin (32). Lockingmechanism (30) rotates about pin (32) to move from a locked or engagedposition upwardly to an unlocked or disengaged position. Moving lockingmechanism (30) upwardly with respect to head portion (16) releasesspring (28). By releasing spring (28), frame (24) is disengaged fromtoothed surface (22) of shoulder (20), such that frame (24) is free torotate or pivot with respect to head portion (16) based on rotationabout post (26). Rotating locking mechanism (30) downwardly with respectto head portion (16) energizes spring (28) and compresses frame (24)against the toothed surface (22) of shoulder (20).

Frame (24) also receives and retains razor blade (34). Razor blade (34)slides within frame (24) and is secured by blade retaining member (36).In specific, razor blade (34) slides within frame (24), and retainingmember (36) rotates or pivots downwardly to engage recess (40, FIG. 5C)along the top edge of blade (34).

The locking mechanism (30) is shown in a locked or engaged position inFIG. 2A and in an unlocked or disengaged position in FIG. 2B. In thelocked or engaged position, as shown in detail in FIG. 2A, lockingmechanism (30) is shown in a downward position, which energizes spring(28) to slightly compress the frame (24) against the shoulder (20). Theframe (24), and specifically mating surface (42, FIG. 5C), is drivenslightly downward into toothed surface (22) of shoulder (20), therebypreventing any rotational movement of frame (24) with respect to thebody (12). In the locked position, the razor blade (34) remainsstationary. A user places the utility knife (10) in the locked positionprior to use.

In the unlocked or disengaged position, as shown in detail in FIG. 2B,the locking mechanism (30) has been lifted upward with respect to thebody (12). By lifting the locking mechanism (30) upward, spring (28) isreleased, thereby slightly lifting frame (24) upwardly with respect toshoulder (20). As a result, the frame (24) becomes free to rotate orpivot about post (26) with respect to body (12). A user may unlock ordisengage locking mechanism (30) in order to adjust the angle ordirection of razor blade (34), or to stow the blade in a closedposition, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2C shows sectional views of the head assembly (18) when the lockingmechanism (30) is in an engaged or locked position vis-à-vis when thelocking mechanism is in an disengaged or unlocked position, whichillustrates how the spring (28) releases as the locking mechanism (30)is raised to the unlocked position, thereby lifting frame (24) upwardlyslightly with respect to shoulder (22) and body (12). Raising lockingmechanism (30) to release spring (28) creates a clearance between theframe (24) and the shoulder (20) to allow the frame (24) to rotate orpivot about post (26), thereby allowing head assembly (18) and blade(34) to rotate with respect to body (12).

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the head assembly (18) is shown rotated ina counterclockwise direction with respect to body (12), in a neutral ordefault position in which the head assembly (18) is in the same plane asbody (12), and shown rotated in a clockwise direction with respect tobody (12). Head assembly (18) is shown rotated about fifty-four degreesin a counterclockwise direction, and about fifty-four degrees in aclockwise direction, though the particular angle selected by the user isdictated by the specific application of utility knife (12). Once a userselects the desired positioning of the head assembly (18) and razorblade (34), the user may depress the locking mechanism (30) to securethe head assembly in that position. A user may desire to rotate headassembly (18) in a desired direction with respect to the body (12) topermit the razor blade (34) to access a particular tight corner or workarea. An example where a user may desire to rotate head assembly (18) iswith window glazing applications, to achieve a desired angle whencutting or shaping the glazing.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the head assembly (18) also may be placedin a neutral or default position, such that the razor blade (34) isaligned in the same plane as the body (12). In the neutral position, theutility knife (10) may be used in any application typical of utilityknives, such as box cutting or carpentry. Head assembly (18) also may berotated one-hundred and eighty degrees in a clockwise direction from theneutral or default position in order to stow razor blade (34) in aclosed or storage position, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. A user stowsblade (34) by lifting the locking mechanism (30), rotating head assembly(18) one-hundred and eighty degrees clockwise until blade (34) contactsthe head portion (16) of body (12), and then depresses locking mechanism(30) to close down upon the blade (34) and prevent rotational movementof the head assembly (18). Locking mechanism (30) is generally U-shapedto house the head assembly (18) when placed into the closed or stowedposition.

In an alternative embodiment, shoulder (20) is comprised of a resilientor compressible material, such as rubber or neoprene. In thisembodiment, when a user moves the locking mechanism (30) to a locked orengaged position, frame (24) is driven into the compressible shoulder(20), which compresses slightly to form a tight seal against frame (24),thereby preventing rotational movement of the head assembly (18).Compressible shoulder (20) may achieve a tight seal against frame (24)by being slightly oversized such that frame (24) sufficiently compressesshoulder (20) in the locked or engaged position to create enoughfriction against mating surface (42, FIG. 5C) of frame 24 to overcomerotational forces placed on the head assembly (18) by razor blade (34)during use. Compressible shoulder (20) also may achieve a tight seal byhaving a plurality of ridges or other features in the upper surface (22)of shoulder (20) that align with or compress against mating surface (42)of frame (24). Because of the resilient nature of compressible shoulder(20), a toothed surface likely would not be necessary or feasible onupper surface (22). Likewise, skilled artisans would appreciate thatmating surface (42) may be smooth or have features other than aplurality of teeth (as shown for illustrative purposes in FIG. 5C) whenadapted for use with compressible shoulder (20).

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of the components of utility knife (10),which more clearly shows how each of the components interact with oneanother. The components may be made of many conventional materials. Forexample, body (12), shoulder (20), frame (24), and locking mechanism(30) may be fashioned of metals such as aluminum or steel or of adurable plastic, composite, or other polymer. Shoulder (20) also may becomprised of a resilient or compressible material, such as rubber orneoprene. In most applications, blade (34) is made of metal, such assteel or stainless steel, though may be fashioned from any hard surfacesuitable for cutting.

As shown in FIG. 5, razor blade (34) is uniquely shaped and sized to bereceived by frame (24) of head assembly (18). Blade (34) slides into aninterior cavity of frame (24), and retaining member (36) engages recess(40) of blade (34) to secure the blade within the frame. Frame (24) hasa mating surface (42) that is configured to engage with the toothedsurface (22) of shoulder (20) when the locking mechanism (30) isdepressed or moved downwardly with respect to the body (12).

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedrepresentative claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A utility knife comprising: a body having ahandle portion opposite a head portion; a head assembly received by thehead portion of the body, the head assembly being configured to receiveand secure a razor blade; wherein the head assembly is configured topivot with respect to the body such that the razor blade forms an anglewith respect to the body.
 2. The utility knife of claim 1 furthercomprising a locking mechanism that prevents the head assembly frompivoting with respect to the body.
 3. The utility knife of claim 2wherein the locking mechanism comprises a base member having a pluralityof teeth that engage the head assembly to prevent the head assembly frompivoting with respect to the body.
 4. The utility knife of claim 2wherein the locking mechanism comprises a base member having acompressible surface that engages the head assembly to prevent the headassembly from pivoting with respect to the body.
 5. The utility knife ofclaim 2 wherein the locking mechanism is activated by the handleportion, such that raising the handle portion with respect to the bodyunlocks the locking mechanism.
 6. The utility knife of claim 3 whereinthe base member engages the head assembly when the handle portion islowered against the body.
 7. The utility knife of claim 4 wherein thebase member engages the head assembly when the handle portion is loweredagainst the body.
 8. The utility knife of claim 1 wherein the headassembly pivots such that the razor blade forms an angle with respect tothe body up to ninety degrees, when the utility knife is being used as aknife.
 9. The utility knife of claim 1 wherein the head assembly pivotsone-hundred and eighty degrees such that the razor blade may be stowedwithin a recess of the body.
 10. The utility knife of claim 1 whereinthe locking mechanism includes a spring-loaded member for engaging thehead assembly.
 11. A method for cutting at an angled direction with autility knife having a body with a head portion securing a razor bladethat is configured to pivot with respect to the body, the methodcomprising the steps of: providing a handle portion secured to an end ofthe body proximate the razor blade; providing a head assembly receivedby the head portion of the body, the head assembly being configured toreceive and secure the razor blade; and pivoting the head assembly withrespect to the body such that the razor blade forms an angle withrespect to the body.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising thesteps of providing a locking mechanism operatively connected to the headassembly, and engaging the locking mechanism to prevent the headassembly from pivoting with respect to the body.
 13. The method of claim12 wherein the locking mechanism includes a base member having aplurality of teeth, the teeth engaging the head assembly to prevent thehead assembly from pivoting with respect to the body.
 14. The method ofclaim 12 wherein the locking mechanism includes a base member having acompressible surface, the compressible surface engaging the headassembly to prevent the head assembly from pivoting with respect to thebody.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the locking mechanism isactivated by the handle portion, such that raising the handle portionwith respect to the body unlocks the locking mechanism.
 16. The methodof claim 13 wherein the base member engages the head assembly when thehandle portion is lowered against the body.
 17. The method of claim 14wherein the base member engages the head assembly when the handleportion is lowered against the body.
 18. The method of claim 11 whereinthe head assembly pivots such that the razor blade forms an angle withrespect to the body up to ninety degrees, when the utility knife isbeing used as a knife.
 20. The method of claim 11 wherein the headassembly pivots one-hundred and eighty degrees such that the razor blademay be stowed within a recess of the body.